Mold box



Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

nire-in STAT-es anonce a. Burrnnss, or Los Aiten'rins, canino i tari-r. Assrenoa To Burmese evr- .suia Tina contrastar, or nos ANGELES, enamorarme, .e CORPORATION 0F CALI- ronnie.

Morin Box.

Application med Maya?, was. serial no. 33,223'.

This invention particularly pertains to mold boxes off the type employed in the manufacture of hollow buildingblocks from a plastic composition, andespeciall-y relates to improvements in mold boxes of the type used in the block-forming machine set forth in my co-pending application `tiled February 26, 1924:, Serial Number 695,138,

An object of the invention is to provide a mold box so constructed as to facilitate the removal of the molded blocks therefrom.

Anotherobject is to-.providea mold box with a wall adapted to be moved away from the surface of the block molded thereagainst in such manner as to break contact and adhesion between the wall and the bloclrand af ford a clearance to permit ready ejection of the block from the mold, and including mechanically operable means for edectingmovenient of the wall actuable on advancing the mold box on a supportingtrack and adapted to normally dispose the movable wall in a.

.fixed position during;- themolding operation. A further object is to provide a mold boi; having a core for forming` spaces within the molded bloclr with means whereby the core may be securely held fixed in the mold` box, yet be readily assembled therein and removed therefrom, and which core is so formed as to Fig. 2 is detail in seetionand elevation as seen on the line 2N2 o f Figs. land 3;

Fig. 3 is a detail ing-longitudinal vertical theA directionl indicatdby the arllllf Bi in,v

be highly resistant to fracture and to presentdirection indicatedby' the` arrowv Ain illustrating the means for retracting Fig. 3, showing the device for advancing the side walls of the mold box;

Fig. 6 is a detail in horizontal section as seen on the line 6*@ of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view inside `elevation illustratingthe operation of the invention.

More specifically, 9 indicates generally a mold box here shown as embodying a plurality of mold chambers a, c and d but which may include` any suitable number of mold chambers. The mold box proper com prises end walls@ and f and side walls g and It, and also includes partitions i, j and 7c, whereby its interior is divided into the sev eral mold chambers a, o, c and d; the partitions being carried by the end walls c and f.

An important feature of the present invention resides in providing each of the mold chambers with atleast one side wall adapted to be moved transversely in the direct-ion of its thickness so that it may be advanced and retracted relative to the mold chamber. In the embodimentof the invention here shown, the partition between a pair of adjacent mold chambers, such asthe partitions z' and 7c, is formed by means of a pair of spaced side wall plates l0 and 1l, as particularly shown in Fig, 2, and which plates are aftited at` their lower ends as to the end walls c and f by `means of lnfgs l2 and 13 as shown in Figi 3, whereby the upper portions of tlie plates may be shifted laterally. The space between the plates l() and 11 is covered` at the upper ends of the plates by means of a wall-lll. carried by the ends of the mold bor.

Means are provided for normally maintaining' the movable plates l0 and ll in an advanced position during; the molding operation.` and also for retracting the plates to afford a `clearance in the mold chamber after a bloclr liasbeen molded thereinto permit readyV ejection of the block. rlhis means is here shown as. embodyinga rotary shaft l5 arranged inthe space between the plates l() and l1' and e`xte-ndingf lengthwise, thereof with the end portions of the shaft journalledin ltheywend plates of the moldiboe. The. axis of the-shaftlti extends cna plane mid-way between the plates' l() and ll and maurtefl vOnfli Shaft ienne orlmo'replate advancin cams r16;particularly shown in Fig. mg le "bdesend pertonsprejeet ing dnitblly .Oil Opposite' s. id of the shaft 15 adapted to abut against the inner faces of the plates and 11 when the cani is disposed in its horizontally extending position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, whereby the plates 10 and 11 will be disposed and maintained in their advanced Vpositions and substantially parallel with the opposite sides of the mold chamber. lt is to be noted that the cam 16 is elongated and has its opposite end faces disposed equidistant from the axis of the shaft 15. The ends of 'the cam 16 are preferably rounded as shown.VV

Mounted on the shaft is one or more plate-retracting cams 17, each of which cams is elongated and has its end portions rounded and projecting equidistant on opposite sides of the shaft 15; the cani 17 being of shorter length than the cam 16. The cams 16 and 17 are arranged on the sha-ft 15 with their longitudinal centers extending at right angles to each other. Mounted on the plates 10 and 11 are brackets 18 and 19 which eX- tend on opposite sides of the shaft 15, the braclets having lend portions Z andm, respectively, arranged to be engaged by the working faces of the cam 17 the end port-ion Z of the'braclzet 18 projecting downwardly along the edge of the cam 17 opposite the plate 10 on which the bracket 18 is carried, and the projection m on the bracket 19 projecting upwardly along the edge of the cam remote from the plate 11. The cam 17 is thus arranged between the vertically extending end portions Z and m of the brackets 1 and 19 in such manner that when the cam 17 is disposed in its horizontal position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 at which time the cam 16 will be disposed in its vertical position in such manner to push the brackets 18 and 19 in opposite directions, and thereby draw the plates 10 and 11 toward each other into their retracted position. It Vwill now be seen that when the shaft 15 is rotated ay quarter of a reifolution from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the spreading cam 16 will be moved out of operative relation to the plates 10 and 11` and the cam 17 willoperate toretract the plates, and that by then turning the shaft another quarter of a revolution the cam 16 will restore the plates to their advanced position. in this manner the plates are alternately advanced and retracted on each quarter reifolntion of the shaft 15. Zhen the plates 10 and 11 are in their advanced positions, the

members Z and m will abut against the camsV 17 and thereby limit out-ward movement of the plates.

Rollers 20 are provided on the ends of the mold box which travel on rails 21 of a track affording a support for the vmold box and on which the 'latter is movable. The mold box may be advanced on this track in any desired manner, and means are provided where.- by this advanced movement of the inold bog;

Leoavee will effect intermittent rotation of the shaft 15 and thereby cause the alternate retraction and advance of the movable side walls 10 and 11 of the mold chamber. This means is here shown as embodying a star wheel 22 mounted on the shaft 16 at one end of the mold box and spaced tixed projecting iingers 23 arranged to successively engage the star wheel 22 as the mold boX advances, these fingers being adapted to operate as t-he mold box moves forward to engage the star wheel and effect rotation thereof one-fourth of a revolution. The fingers 23 are spaced apart such distance as to afford a prolonged period of rest of the shaftl between the operation thereof, so that as the mold box movesforward the movable wall of the mold chamber will be alternately held in its advanced and retracted positions for suitable lengths of time.

Mounted on the underside of the mold box is aI series of rods 24 suitably spaced apart which aord supports for a series of cores 25 arranged in the moldchamber and projecting upwardly from the supporting bar. The cores 25 are preferably circular in Cross section, as shown in Fig. 6 and are slightly tapered from their lower to their upper ends, the Lipper end portions being rounded or Vdome shaped. Each of the cores is preforably formed hollow for the purpose of minimizing weight and has its lower end provided with inturned flanges 26 arranged to form an end opening 27 so shaped that the head 28 of a bolt 29 may be passed therethrough and to form a ledge on which the underside of the bolt head 28 may seat on turning the bolt to position the bolt head out of register with the opening 27 after the bolt head has been inserted in the latter as shown in Figs. 2 and G. The bars 24 are formed with openings 30 to receive the bolts 29. After passing the bolts through the openings 80. nuts 81 are seated on the lower ends of the bolts against lock washers 32 so as to clamp the lower ends of the cores in their seated positions on th-e bars 24. As a means for facilitating centering of the cores on the bars the lower ends of the cores arc recessed as indicated at so as to set astrido the bar with the walls oi the recess conforming to the upper port-ion of the bar. The ero posed superficial area of the core is covered with a surface coating such as vitrified enamel. whereby it is glazed and rendered smooth, non-ahsorptive and immune to rust. The core thus formed permits ready separation of the core 'from the contracting surface y of 'the plastic materials molded thereagainst.

as plaster will not readily .aldhere thereto.v thus facilitating removal of the molded bloclrA from the mold chamber.

YArranged in each of the mold chambers a vertically movable bottom plate 34 which is apertured at 85 to receive the cores 25,

plaie normally seats on the bars 24, and depending from the end portions of the plato Ell are downward 'extensions 36 and 37 which are adapted on advance movement of the mold box to be engaged by an inclined rail 38 and be thereby caused to move upwardly so as to elevate the bottom plate la in eject ing' the molded block from the mold chamber.

The bottom plate 3l after being elevated may be restored to normal either' by gravity or by effecting a downward pull on the eX- tensions 36 and 37 after the latter leaves the rail 38, as by causing outwardly projecting pins 39 on the lower ends ot the extensions 36 and 37 to ride against the underside ot an inclined rail l() as the mold box advances.

ln order to etl'ect the desired operation of the invention the inclined track 38 is disposed beween a pair of fingers 23 so that one ot the fingers will operate to edect rotation ot the star wheel Z2 and the shaft l5 and thus retract the movable side wall plates l() and ll at time previous to elevation of the bottom plate 3l by the action of the inclined rails 38 on the extensions 36 and 37 and so that the other linger 23 will operate to turn the star wheel and shaft to advance the plates l and ll to normal after the plate 3l has been elevated a, d preferably on the latter being' restored to a lower position.

,ln the operation ot the invention the parts are disposed as shown in Finn 2 before filling,` the mold, that is with the movable side walls in their normal advanced positions and with the bottom walls `in their normal lowermost positions, whereupon a suitable plastic composition is delivered to the mold chamber through the open uppei' end thereof in any desired manner. ritter the composition has been allowed to set the movable side walls are retracted as by the action oli a finger 23 on the star wheel on advancing the mold box on its tracl-, which movement ol the side walls of the mold chamber brealts the contact thereof with the surface of the molded block and atlords a clearance which will permit ready ejection ot the block on upward movement ot' the plate 24.

While l have shown the preferred :form ot my invention, as now known to me, it. will be understood that various changes might be made in the combination. construction and arrangement of parts by those skilled in the art without departing 'from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

l claim z* l. i-i mold box having side walls at least one of which is adapted to move inwardly and outwardly in the direction of the thiol? ness ot the `wall, a turnable shaft extending to one side ot said wall, means operable on turnir 5 said shalt to alternately advance and retract said movable wall. and means whereby advancing' the mold box Will effect turning of said shaft.

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2. A mold box having side walls at least one of which is movable laterally, a shat't e tendingl alongside said movable wall, mea operable on turning' said shalit a partial elution to move said wall in one direction. means operable on turningl the shalt another pai-tial revolution to move said wall in opposite direction, and means whereby advancingl the mold boi; will act to c'l'liect intern'iittcnt turning oit said shaft.

3. A mold box havingside walls one ot which is movable laterally, a shalt extending alongside said movable wall, a cam on said shaft operable on turning' said shaft a partial revolution to move said wall in one direction, and a second cam on said shaft operable on turning' the shattanother revolution to move said wall in the opposite direction.

l. A mold box havingr side walls at least one or' which is movable laterally, a shalt extending alongside said movable wall, a cam on said shaft operable on turning said shaft a partial revolution to move said wall in one direction, a second cam on said shalt operable on turning' the shaft another revolution to move said wall in the opposite direction, and means actuated bv advancing: the mold box to effect intermittent turning at leastof said shalft, whereby said cam will be alterl natcly positioned to dispose said movable wall alternately in its advanced and retracted positions.

5. The combination ot a mold box, a support on which said mold box is adapted to travel, a movable side wall in said mold box, a star wheel carried by said mold box, means operable on advancing the mold box `for effecting intermittent rotation ot said star wheel, and means operable by rotating;- said star wheel for shifting); said movable side wall in the direction of its thickness adapted to alternately dispose said wall in an advanced and a retracted position.

6. In a block molding` device, a mold box havino' a molding chamber open at its top. a support on which said mold box is adapted to travel, a vertically movable bottom wall in said mold chamber, means operable to el- 'ect upward and downwaid movement ot said bottom wall on advancing' said mold bor, a vertically extending plate constituting the side wall of said mold chamber, said plate beingadapted to be moved laterally in the direction of its thickness. means for positioningsaid plate in its innermost position when said bottom wall is in its lowermost position, and means operable on advancing said mold box to retract said plate and to hold same in its retracted position while said bottom wall is moving upwardly.

7. In a molding device oi" the character described, a mold bof; having` a mold cha ber open at its top, a laterally movable plate constituting a side wall of said chamber, a

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vertically movable plate constituting the bottom wall of the chamber` a Support on which said mold box is adapted to travel, means operable on advancingr said mold box to intermittently advance and retract said side wall plate, and 'means operable on advancing said mold box to eect upwardly movement of said bottom wall when said movable side. wall is in its retracted position.

8. In a. molding device of the character described, a mold box having a mold chamber enclosed by side and end Walls and open at its top and bottom, a bar carried by tbe mold box extending' across the lower end portion of said chamber, a hollow core a1- ranged in said chamber formed witli an inturned llange at its lower end provided with a recess adapted to seat on said bar, and means engaging said Hanging bar allording a rigid support for said core adapted to admit removal and replacement of' the core.

GEORGE A. BUTTRESS. 

